January 22/23 we’ll have a PFC Combative Pistolcraft class here at the range. This should be a lot of fun for everyone. This is a two day Class, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday January 22. Classes get out at 5 pm each day. This two-day course is the intermediate-level chapter in the PFC Pistol Series and it gets right to the meat of fighting with a handgun during lethal self-defense encounters. Students will receive instruction in combative marksmanship & manipulations, shooting positions, reactive movement, weapon re-function drills, bilateral weapon operation, one-handed pistol operation, drawing from concealment, PFC Shooting Responses, traveling movement and shooting-on-the-move, barricade tactics, multiple threat engagement, and essential close-range tactics.

Training will include a series of tactical scenarios, skill-building exercises and a ‘combative-level’ standards course of fire. Call the range at 353-4884 right away to sign up. Space is limited for this class.

The cost is $375.00 per student, Border Tactical Members get $10% off, Platinum Members get $25% off. $25.00 discount if enrolled with a partner.

Although our two local state legislators voted against it, the Democrat majority in Sacramento passed AB962 last year. Beginning February 1, 2011, residents of California will have to show a drivers license or other photo-ID to purchase handgun ammo. Also, we’ll have to record your personal info and thumbprint when you buy ammunition, and save this for 5 years. Please don’t get mad at us when you come in to the range to buy ammo, its not our stupid rules, its the state’s!

This is likely to be a mess, because, as of the writing of this newsletter, we haven’t been provided with regulations by the California State Department of Justice, on just what constitutes “handgun” ammunition. For example, .22 caliber bullets are used most often for shooting tin cans with a rifle, but many handguns use .22 as well. So is .22 “handgun” ammo? We also don’t have any state forms yet, so we’ll just see what happens on February 1st. If you want to avoid the whole hassle, just buy a lot of ammo right now, before February 1st. Hopefully in a year or two the law might be overturned or modified to make more sense.

One sad side effect of this law is the loss of many youth shooting programs, such as Jr. ROTC, 4-H, and Boy Scout shooting programs. Many junior shooting sports programs will be eliminated because they rely heavily on purchase of surplus ammunition, at a reduced cost, through the Civilian Marksmanship Program via internet and mail order. Also, many ammo purchasers will drive out of state to buy ammo, reducing California’s sales tax revenue. It is already illegal for felons to purchase handgun ammo, this new law will just bog down the police with useless information, without solving any crime. Here at the range, even though we will have to record the purchaser’s name and address, there is no way for us to cross-reference that to any government database of prohibited purchasers, so its a completely useless and counter-productive law.

This popular dinner & auction always sells out, so get your tickets early! Friends of NRA contributes to the NRA Foundation, which awards charitable organizations such as the Boy Scouts and 4-H money to fund shooting sports activities. Last year, the local 4-H and Boy Scouts were awarded over $9000 from this program, and have been able to improve and expand their shooting programs for youth.

Tickets are available right here at the range. If you’ve never been to the FNRA dinner, this is your year to go! After a terrific dinner, and no speeches from politicians, there’s an auction for one-of-a-kind firearms and other memorabilia. There’s also a silent auction, and just plain raffle drawings, for more guns and shooting items, and outdoor items. Games of skill, and chance, are both available to play, and there is something for everyone, such as jewelry, statuettes, cutlery, and more. This is a kid-friendly event, so bring the family. More information is available at friendsofnra.org You can buy tickets online to the event, but we recommend you buy them at the range, that way you can make sure to get your raffle tickets and other special deals that are not available on line.

Our GSSF tournament is in full swing, but you still have a chance to get in on the action and win a Glock! Remember, the pistol will be given away by random drawing to an entrant of the tournament, not to the highest scoring shooter. If you didn’t shoot last month, then you really need to sign up at shoot Saturday, December 11th. Call the range for more information, there’ll be lots of prizes for everyone who shoots in this tournament!

PFC Combative Pistolcraft
The PFC Progressive Force Combative Pistolcraft Class is coming next month, January 22/23. This class practically always fills up, so call the range at 353-4884 to enroll. This 2-day class is an intermediate level class. Enrollment is $375 (Members get 10% off, Platinum Members get 25% off). Click here [insert the flyer here] to see the entire information sheet about this class. Right after New Years, we’ll advertise this to the general public, members have until then to enroll first and guarantee a spot in class.

First Shots December 18th
For a beginner shooter (or someone who’s skills are really rusty) our First Shots class is perfect. We’ll have a ladies-only session at 10 a.m., and open sessions at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. For just $10, you get an hour in the classroom, an hour on the range with an instructor, free gun rental, free ammo, free eye & ear protection, and refreshments. Kids as young as 12 are welcome with a parent. Space is limited, call the range to enroll!

Coming Up:
Multi-State CCW class, more classes, more fun, more training! Check the “Events” part of our website to stay up to date on everything.

Be sure to consider the range for your Christmas Shopping! We have gifts to fit all budgets, from $15 to $1500, and everything in between. Here are some ideas: For the tight budget, we have great knifes, magazines, gun cases, shotgun shell shaped thermos bottles, shooters T-shirts, holsters, and more. A step up might be some of the great flashlights, single gun safes, and cases of ammo. If you really want to impress the recipient, how about a new firearm, or a year’s membership? If you pay for a full year’s membership in advance, you can get 12 months for the price of 10! A Platinum Membership would give 5 or 10 years of dues, access to the Platinum lounge, free gun cleaning, discounts at the range & Phoenix Uniforms, special apparel & bags with an exclusive Platinum Member logo, and more. Ask one of our range employees about this special gift. If you’re considering the gift of a firearm, please read this message from the National Shooting Sports Foundation

Looking for an affordable multitool made by a top-shelf manufacturer? So were we, so we found the Gerber Paraframe. This Gerber tool is top-notch quality. The plier jaws are spring loaded so that they open when you release your grip. As always this Gerber tool comes full of built in gadgets that can tackle just about any task that comes your way. Not only that, but this knife is such a great gift we’ve included a $15.00 off coupon in this newsletter!